Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-09-02

est jeweI-ghttered on her forehead, sus-
tanned by narrow f1llet of gold. From
this seemed to flow a soft light, which
suffused the hut. Once, when at the
bazaar, Yuddi had seen Nautch dancer,
who bore faint resemblance to the fairy.
That dancer had been, till now, her ideal
of beauty, but she saw at once how sur
passingly lovely was the present visitor.
Yuddi was not at all frightened, but she
glanced round with some anxiety to see
if her parents were awake. They were
sleeping soundly, and Yuddi could not
help feeling glad that she had this lovely
vision ell to herself.
81 am awake,'' she said; "what can
Yuddi, the little daughter of Bi Lings, do
to serve youf'
ssNothing, child" answered the fairy.
81 am come to serve you. You have
longed for cloak; see, have brought
you one, :" and she held up before the g1rls
delighted gaze the most exquisite garment
she had ever beheld. 1t was of the purest
white lambs wool, and round the collar
and edges were embroidered in letters OF
gold some of the wisest sayings OF
Brahma.
els that really for me, my very own?"
cried Yuddi.
eyes, my child, if you can keep the
conditions of the gift. This is the Cloak
of TRUTH and no one must wear it who
does not speak perfect truth. II the
wearer deceives or equivocates, be it never
so little, the word tFalsifier' will appear
on it in letters of flaming scarlet. Will
YOU take it and wear ft?'
Now Yuddi had always been a very
good little girl. Her mother had taught
her how wicked it was to lie, and the
teaching had gone home. 1t was not,
however. without some little tremor that
Yuddi answered:
81 will take it, and try to be worthy to
wear it, oh my good fairy"
sThat is well. / hope you will keep
it long. But there are other conditions to
the gift. If the fatal word appears upon
it, YOU must instantly take it off. Then
the scarlet letters will fade away, and
YOU must find some one to take it from
you. That person you must watch. Ii
he or she wears it in truth and purity all
is well; if not. you must seek till you can
discover proper and faithful owner.
Will you promise to do all this?'
81 WILL replied Yuddi, who was so de-
ternlined to deserve to keep the cloak that
the last named conditions did not greatly
trouble her.
''Then let me place it round your shout
ders; and may all the Powers OF Good
grant you strength long to retain it. T"
With infinite gentleness and tenderness
the fairy wrapped Xuddi in the cloak and
laid her back upon the rustling couch. A
moment later and all was dark and still.
Lulled by the warmth Of her new covering
Yuddi sank almost instantly into sleep.
When she awoke again the morning was
far advanced. Her father had long gone
to his daily toll; but her mother stood
over her looking in wonder at the magic
garment.
'.In the names of Brahna, silva and
Vishnu,'' exclaimed the wondering wo-
man, when she perceived her daughter to
be fully aroused, "where did you get that
cleak?''
Then Yuddi told the marvellous story;
and the good woman who had a strong be-
lief in the supernatural, and who, more
over, had never had cause to doubt her
child's veracity, accepted it without a
murmur.
'sYou are indeed blessed, my only one"
she said as she clasped her to her breast.
''Strive to retain the fairy's gift"
All that morning Yuddi was intensely
happy, but at the hour of noon her father
came home to his meager dinner. He,
too, saw the cloak, and was told its his
tory. He scoffed at the tale, and accused
poor Yuddi of having found or stolen the
cloak and then attempting to deceive him.
The poor little girl was deeply wounded.
Never before had her word been mistrust-
ed On telling the story the second time
to one who was unsympathetic, she began
to realize how almost impossible it sound
ed So, later, when she went out wear
ing the cloak, and some children crowded
round her, and asked where she got it,
she unhappily equivocated. In an instant
the dreadful word ''falsifier," in the
flaming letters of tell tale scarlet, appear
ed upon her back. Her companions ran
from her screaming with fear. Yuddi
tore off the cloak, and almost blinded with
bitter tears rushed home, and sobbed out
her unavailing grief to her mother. That
good woman comforted her as well as
possible, and tried to show the child that
even if she had lost the cloak, she had
been taught a lesson which she ought
never to forget
Yuddi was, however, almost heart
broken and it was only when her mother
reminded her that she still owed duty
to the fairy, that she reused herself
little from her sorrow. 81 will keep my
word in that at least" she said. II will
go to the good Rhasta, my master, and
offer it to him. Without loss of time
she sought the wise old man, told her
story and offered the cloak.
''My child,n he said as he took it, 81
will try to wear it. But l am old, and
know the world and men well. To few
it can be given to be absolutely truthful.
I fear I am not of those Come to me in
the morning."
When Yuddi returned Rhasta was no
longer wearing the cloak.
II have lost it sooner than I expected,
my child. You know how poor am and
how few pupils I have. Last night the
father of Rhum Cat came to me and
asked how his son was getting on. |
thought to myself, if I tell him how hope
lessly stupid Rhum Cat is, he will be
taken away. ] did not tell all the truth,
and I am punished, for 1 have lost both
cloak and pupil. When the father saw
the word upon my back he said his son
should come to me no longer"
Once more Yuddi took up her burden,
and went to the house Of rich and beau
tiful lady for whom her mother sometimes
worked This lady was charitable and
good, and Yuddi, of whom she had often
taken kindly notice, almost worshiped
her When Yuddi had explained her err
rand and shown the wonderful garment,
the lady, Aouda Singh, accepted it rap
turously, and wanted to reward Yuddi
for bringing it. The child would, how
ever, accept nothing but thanks.
IT am but keeping my word" she said.
"For so doing must not want or take re-
ward"
With a somewhat lighter heart she went
back to her humble hut. Not many hours
had passed when a Clearer came rum
ming at his utmost speed to say that she
must go at once to Aouda Singh.
On arriving there Yuddi was greeted
CURLY, almost rudely, by the lady.
"Take back your hated cloak" she ex-
claimed "and never let me see the be-
witched thing again. I wore it to the
bazaar, and bought some handsome gar
ments that would go with it. I was. per-
haps, little too extravaganza, and when
my good lord asked me how much I had
spent l did not dare tell him all. And
when named less than the true amount
the dreadful scarlet letters blazed out.
Take it away, say"
Again Yuddi resumed her quest for a
wearer for the cloak. Among others she
took it to famous lawyer. 'Child, have
you come to mock me?" he cried. 81